Upon invitation by the Superior Council of the Private Enterprise (COSEP), a group of top managers and engineers from HKND and ERM made a 4-hour-long presentation to more than 200 members of COSEP, and the Nicaraguan Council of Small and Medium Enterprises (CONIMIPYME), among other guests, on the Integrated Development Project of the Grand Canal of Nicaragua on July 10, 2014.

Senior Engineer Dong Yunsong gave a general description of the Canal Project. After introducing the composition of the global HKND team and its outstanding work, the technical expert presented the definition of the selected route and the details of the design plans of the six sub-projects, which include the canal, two ports, roads, a free trade zone, resorts and an international airport. Finally, he stressed that HKND will develop an ecological Grand Canal, friendly with the environment and beneficial to the people of Nicaragua. Subsequently, Mr. Alberto Vega of ERM presented initial results of the environmental and social impact studies.

During the Q & A session, Mr. Zhu Xiaoya (Assistant to the President of HKND), Mr. Lu Dong (General Manager of Public Relations Department, HKND) and Professor Pang (Deputy General Manager of Construction Management Department, HKND) answered the questions and concerns of the entrepreneurs about the funds for the investment, the date of commencement of the work, participation opportunities for local businesses, jobs generation, the impact to the environment and Nicaragua Lake, and the procurement rules for land acquisition and compensation, among others. HKND reiterated in their responses the principle to be "legal, transparent and fair" and expressed their determination to work together with the people of Nicaragua to create a better future.

Mr. Jose Adan Aguerri, President of COSEP, attended the meeting and gave a speech. He said the feasibility study wa very expensive, but he expected studies would go deeper. He also highlighted the challenge for assuring the funds for the work. He added that once that funding was in place, the private sector companies, SMEs as well as large companies would be looking for more opportunities for participation. He closed his speech with the message that private companies had to get prepared.

Among the attendees were: Mr. Laureano Ortega from ProNicaragua; Congressman Edwin Castro, head of the Sandinista bench at the National Assembly; Commander Lumberto Campbell, Secretary of the Council for the Development of the Caribbean Coast; Mr. Telemaco Talavera, CNU President; and all members of the Committee for the Development of the Grand Canal of Nicaragua.

Mr. Telemaco during his speech highlighted the great importance and the profound significance of the Canal project in stimulating the economic growth and improving quality of life of the Nicaraguans.